by Angela La Fon

Created on: September 06, 2007   Last Updated: September 01, 2009

When a Southern baker marries an excellent gift buyer, it's a batch made in heaven. Check out these unique yet practical gifts for Southern bakers that will inspire fruit cobblers, berry pies and warm and scrumptious muffins.

Perfect Gifts for Southern Bakers: A Berry Bowl

What is a berry bowl? A berry bowl looks like a cross between a flowerpot with an attached bottom saucer and a colander with holes and handles.

You can fill it just picked blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries or grapes and simply sit it in the sink, turn on the water and rinse. As the water continues to drain, it fills the reservoir on the bottom. I also use mine to rinse cherry and pear tomatoes. Not only is it practical, it is very attractive. My husband found ours, made of pottery, at a local arts gallery. However, Lillian Vernon has a beautiful one with a dainty floral print. It is made of glazed stoneware, dishwasher safe and on sale for $9.98. Once you've enjoyed a berry bowl, you'll never want to be without one.

Perfect Gifts for Southern Bakers: Microplane Zester Grater

I never really expected to get excited over a zester or grater but the Microplane Zester is really making this cook happy. The design of the Microplane Zester is so smart. It has a fat, ergonomic handle that is easy to grip steadily with one hand and a grating blade made of stainless steel that is about 8 inches long and an inch and a half wide with super sharp teeth.

So what makes the Microplane so special? Well if you've ever had to run a lemon peel over a zester a few inches long a hundred times you'll get it. The longer, sharper blade of the Microplane means less work and less hand cramps. You can use the Microplane Zester for lemon zest or orange zest, finely grated Parmesan cheese or raw coconut. I can get better quality Parmesan and easily grate it myself to top off soups, salads and pasta dishes. Creating lemon zest or orange zest is no longer a big deal. The Microplane Zester Grater comes with a plastic cover for safe storage and it also have a large hole in the handle end if you prefer to hand your kitchen tools. The best part is that the Microplane Grater Zester is made in America and is under $10.00.

Perfect Gifts for Southern Bakers: le creuset flexible silicone muffin pan

Do you know the muffin man? Did you know he was using a new kind of pan? I was quite surprised when I first saw the flexible silicone muffin pan by le crueset. Not only was it orange, it was floppy. What was wrong with my good old metal muffin pans?

Newer isn't always better but I've been converted. This flexible silicone pan delivers every time on its' claims to be "non-stick" and to offer "uniform baking" and "fool proof" release. For his shopping efforts, my husband has enjoyed peach lavender muffins. I've found that this pan works for more than just tasty muffins. We recently used this versatile pan to make crab croquettes. The le crueset silicone muffin pans are available in kitchen stores or at chefs catalog online. The silicone 9 muffin pan is available for $7.99 and a 30 mini-muffin pan is only $9.99. A Southern baker will say a dozen thanks.

Keep these well-tested kitchen accessories in mind for the Southern bakers in your life for Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day or birthdays. Of course, the greatest gift you can give a Southern baker is a sincere compliment and the best compliment is to ask for seconds.

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